My last college visit on my recent Connecticut sweep was at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut. Wesleyan is known as a very progressive liberal arts college where true intellectuals thrive. And it is just that. I would not send a conservative student here, nor would I send a student hoping to hear discourse from both sides of the aisle. But I would also never send a student here who is hoping to memorize information, spit it back and get an A for the class. This is a university for true thinkers. It is a university where academic discussions continue into the dining hall. I spent over an hour in the dining hall, as a matter of fact, soaking in the environment and the conversations. I was very impressed by the diversity, the energy, and the friendliness of the student body. I noticed how long student groups stayed to chat, not just eat and run. And I was impressed by it all.

Academically, Wesleyan is known for its open curriculum. It's a place where students can explore with minimal boundaries and restrictions. On their website they say, "We refuse to squeeze open minds into a closed curriculum." That is Wesleyan. Although the usual government, economics and psychology are amongst Wesleyan's most popular majors, ethnomusicology is one of its strongest departments. Where else do you find that? They offer a 4 + 1 master's degree in the natural sciences and psychology and it's tuition free for the 5th year. There's also a 3 + 2 engineering program culminating in a degree from Dartmouth, Columbia or Caltech. There's also a new science building under construction and it's expected to be completed by 2026. Lastly, a couple of admissions nuggets: I was told, "We look for Calc on the transcript." No surprise there. Also, "Don't sign up for an interview if you're not socially savvy." Wow. Good to know.